Dedebit | August 23/2023
By Denboba Natie
I. Psychopath Narcissist Is Supported By Unionist Expansionists To Destroy The Empire And Its Subjects.
During the time Abiy Ahmed assumed power in April 2018, he was praised and respected by Ethiopians of all walks life and the global community. All domestic and international key players gave him unconditional support. The reasons were his rhetorical vows in which he has repeatedly promised unrestricted rights to a free political participation, for not imprisoning citizens without evidence, for not killing single citizen because of his/her political views, for allowing freedom of assembly and expression, for respecting and protecting the territorial integrity of the country, for normalising political and economic atmosphere, for promising transformative economic policies that alleviate poverty, promote development and prosperity; and finally for facilitating Ethio-Eritrean diplomatic relationship.
Unfortunately, these all only short lived when he acted in the stark contradiction to the entire promises to turn the country upside down at the scale hitherto unknown not only in empire’s history, but also in the world’s.
Instead of honouring his promises, the PM become obsessively engrossed in waging war on own citizens on various part of Ethiopia since June 2018. In June 2018, he has masterminded the claimed assassination attempt by alleged Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) fighters on him. The allegations were made up to be used to start war on Oromo people. Thousands of Oromo people arrested and dozens of high-level OLF’s political leaders remain incarcerated to date. Oromo incarceration intensified since June 2020’s assassination of the Oromo’s iconic singer Haccaalu Hundessa by Abiy’s Eritrean operatives. The Oromo youth who fought to overthrow EPRDF’s regime thereby allowed the PM to grab power become dejected thus are increasingly joining the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
Few months ago, a peace deal was attempted between the OLA and the Ethiopia’s government that was conducted in Zanzibar (Tanzania). Unfortunately, the deal failed due to government’s unwillingness instead demanding OLA to be disarmed without agreeing a lasting political solution. In the contrary, the OLA’s position remains as consistent as federalist forces that stresses all differences could be resolved through a ‘round table political dialogue.’ This is why, OLA and other federalist forces raised and are raising weapons as they exhaust all options to be left with no alternatives.
Antithesis of peace and democracy, the Ethiopia’s deceitful PP government in the contrary refused peace apart from paying lip services to his oblivious international audiences. Currently, Oromia and Amhara states are under active war causing incalculable level of material and humanitarian costs.
II. State Lead Wars On Own Citizens Whilst Allowing Foreign Forces To Meddle With Empires’ Affairs.
Following his assumption of power in early 2018, PM and his predominately unitarist supporters masterminded animosity between the Oromo and Gedeo to cause the death and displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians of both sisterly nations. Abiy’s PP government officials planned and executed war in Benishangul that has caused the death and displacement of thousands of Indigenous citizens of the region and ethnic Amhara settlers. Indigenous Benishanguli people were increasingly targeted and ethnically cleansed by Amhara’s far right fascists known as Fano who were armed by Amhara politicians including the current deputy PM and foreign affairs head, Mr Demeke Mekonen. The Benishanguli ethnic cleansing project is to date actively ongoing by killing and displacing thousands of indigenous people. The PP government’s land grabbing project in Gambella region is intensifying whilst ignoring the plights of Gambelia people and children who are routinely kidnapped by south Sudan raiders who cross Ethiopia’s border. The Gambella Agnua people predominately become the targets of assassinations and displacement to allow settlers and south Sudanese to expropriate their fertile land.
Between June 2018 and July 2019, Abiy’s regime has executed over ‘247’ unarmed Sidama civilians who were peacefully demanding their constitutional rights to a regional self-rule. To date the Sidama regional state that was achieved by the sacrifice of the Sidama civilians is remote controlled by Abiy’s PP regime that installed corrupt Sidama cadres. The Sidama region is deliberately made to be the symbol of failure for ethnic federalism to warn any nation aspiring to be self-reliant. After having definingly winning to snatch its rights from the hands of unitarist dictators, the Sidama cadres were installed by Abiy to this date are silencing and impoverishing Sidama. They made the Sidama state the symbol of failure; and in fact, unitarists are achieving their heinous objectives in Sidama land as corrupt Sidama cadres are proving their inadequacy. The Sidama cadres are ‘good for nothing’ apart from wagging their tails to the federal rulers.
III. The Amhara’s Smouldering Fire Is Burning Wreaking Havoc!
The Amhara regional state that has never existed prior to EPRDF (1983)- was created by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in 1983. The EPRDF was created by Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) after militarily toppling the Derg’s brutal regime in 1983. Subsequently, after drafting federal political arrangements in the empire, the EPRDF/TPLF has mastermind the creation of the current constitution that recognises the subjugation of the colonised mass therefore guaranteeing their equality under legally binding framework, known us Ethnic Federalism. The tenet of Ethiopian constitution therefore is ‘Ethnic-Federalism’ that unconditionally guarantees nations rights to self-determination.
The Amhara elites whose colonising settlers have dehumanised their subjects since 1880s throughout the empire were dissatisfied with this political arrangement from its onset. Hence, they were waiting for the right time to avenge their loss. This is why they waged and are waging war on Tigray, Oromo and other federalist forces as we speak. The Amhara’s regional state is the only state where its core elites believe the current constitution is anti-Amhara therefore, they work 24/7 to eradicate it.
In the contrary, the subjugated mass sees the constitution, the only legal instrument that brought remedy to their over 145 years ill under the colonial yoke of king Menelik II’s regime. The Amhara elites to date claim the constitution has compromised their colonially attained superior positions thereby relegating them to the level of ordinary peoples in Ethiopia. These groups erroneously believe they have created today’s Ethiopian empire- therefore they must retain their superiority by refusing the equality and fraternal coexistence of all stakeholders of the empire. This is where all differences emanate from in empire’s political arena that persists to become the underlying causes for today’s Ethiopia wide instability, war in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and elsewhere that are ravaging the empire.
3.1. Precarious Conditions Nations and Nationalities of Amhara State Are Living Under.
Today, various nations and nationalities living in the EPRDF created Amhara state are subjected to brutal treatments of Amhara government and the Amhara’s haphazardly established ultra-nationalists including the Ethiopia’s Janjaweed ‘Fano’. This is simply because, far right Amhara fascists known as Fano with the regional politicians dehumanise nations living in Amhara by coercing them to denounce their true identities by converting to Amhara. This is becoming beyond regional issue as the rights of various nations in Amhara state left unaddressed for centuries.
Close to 3.5 million populated Kemant people of Amhara state became the target of ethnic cleansing since Abiy assumed power. Tens of thousands of Kemant people were executed by Amhara Fano and to date are suffering whilst their killers are freely roaming on their streets. Kemant people are getting routinely removed from their lands to allow Amhara elite settlers to trade with it.
Over 10 million populated Agaw people of the Amhara regional state also become the subjects of continued massacres by Amhara Fano and their regional forces. To date the Agaw people are fighting for survival under precarious conditions.
The Oromo people in Amhara’s Oromo special zone are continually subjected to Amhara state and Fano executed war where villages with their people become the subjects of setting on fire and an eradication. Equally, the wider Amhara’s innocent peasants are becoming the subjects of government forces targets under the pretext of fighting Fano. As we speak the Amhara region is under a state of emergency thus the regime is indiscriminately bombing citizens whilst Fano is equally terrorising non-Amhara people living in the region.
In fact, the Amhara Fano was created and armed by Abiy’s and Amhara’s regional government to fight the Tigray people since mid – 2020 thereby causing volatility in entire Amhara and beyond. These and the other illegal and unconstitutional actions are Abiy’s government led anarchy with the objective of remaining on power.
IV. The Tigray War (late 2020 to late 2022), the Worst Humanitarian Catastrophe of the 21st Century.
The worst of all since Abiy has assumed power in 2018 is Tigray’s devastating civil war. The war was waged by multi-agencies on Federated Tigray state in November 2020 and lasted for 2 years until November 2022’s Pretoria peace deal. We note that the peace deal itself is hanging in the balance as its implementation by PP’s regime remain untrustworthy.
The Tigray war involved the Ethiopia’s entire national defence forces (ENDF), the Eritrea’s 45 to 47 infantry and mechanised divisions, Amhara’s regional militia, special forces and Fano amounting to at least 300,000, the special forces of various federated states of Ethiopia, and Turkey, China, Iran, and UAE given unmanned drones.
All these unleashed their brutal forces on 5.5 – 6% of 120 million populated empires people; to totally dismantle Tigray and dehumanise citizens. Tigray eradication slogans were widely propagated by government owned medias in addition to the once owned by unitarist Amhara elites. The people of Tigray were targeted throughout the country. Tigrayan civilians, religious leaders and military personnel from top to bottom were all removed from entire systems of the Ethiopian apparatuses. People were targeted throughout the empire for having a Tigrayan DNA.
Furthermore, the Ethiopian PP government has invited foreign (Eritrean army) to invade Tigray with his forces. The Eritreans, ENDF and Amhara Fano in unison dehumanised Tigrayans, destroyed and ransacked resources, gang raped at least quarter of a million Tegaru women and girls including religious nans to finally destroy infrastructures. Today, Tigray became barren land without basic resources to sustain the remaining people.
Close to 100,000 Tigrayans fled the country and suffering in Sudan to this date. Thousands of people in Tigray are dying of hunger on monthly basis after close to 9 months post November 2022’s Pretoria peace deal whose objective was sustaining life by ending the suffering of civilians. Since November 2020’s Tigray war, over 1.2 Tigrayans were feared massacred and over 2.5 million people become IDPs. I believe, the Tigray war crimes must be called genocide not only crimes against humanity and war crime. The Pretoria’s peace deal that was agreed to theoretically stop the war and remove all forces from Tigray, provide Tigrayans with the necessities is left in tatters simply because the PP government deliberately failed to honour the agreement.
Moreover, the Eritrean army is widely circulating in occupied Western Tigray with Amhara Fano wreaking havoc whilst over 2.5 million internally displaced Tigrayans are suffering in various concentration camps.
V. The Plights Of Other Nations And Nationalities Of The Empire
Since PM Abiy Ahmed has assumed power in 2018, all nations and nationalities are groomed to believe the PM has got God-given omnipotent rights to do what pleases him. Time and time again, the PM has inculcated this rhetoric in the minds of dejected mass therefore any person or nation raising issues related to individual and collective rights dealt with brutal response- at times with live bullets.
The Wolayta people who are demanding their statehood rights to be respected are increasingly targeted and become the subject of government masterminded intimidation, harassment, and massacre. Konso people were equally massacred during Abiy’s rule, and no one is held accountable to this date. Ogadeni Somali people are ruled by corrupt cadres who accumulate wealth at the expenses of the subjects to make the region one of the most suppressed regions. All the 85 nations and nationalities are impacted with PP’s brutal rule.
Since Abiy assumed power, peace and security became distant from federal cities to regional where war lords’ rule over the terrorised mass with no rule of law and government’s taking over the control of the situations. Kidnapping for ransom become routine business for illegally organised and armed forces mainly in Amhara and Oromia regions. The Eritrea’s security operatives are widely leading anarchy in the empire.
VI. The Ethiopia’s Pernicious Civil War Is Turning To Religious and Grassroot Based Grievances.
The indicated and other political and military confrontations have transcended into a series of religious fragmentations and concomitant confrontations. The Orthodox religion that is being observed by at least 90% Tigrayans has become the subject of divisions after Amhara Orthodox groups hiding in Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) have publicly declared war on Tigray people. By doing so the Amharanised Orthodox group failed their religions duties. Protestant and Muslim groups also supported Tigray’s genocidal war thereby failing to honour their religious duties.
Such immoral actions of all religious groups in Ethiopia, mainly the Orthodox church, in turn recently obliged Tigray to establish its own synod – separate from the Amharanised Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The Tigray born Orthodox Patriarch is sidelined and discriminated against by Amharanised Orthodox. The Oromo Orthodox church is also demanding for the same rights and have already chosen their own bishops and fighting this to be recognised.
Moreover, Ethiopian peasants are not provided with the fertilisers and seeds, as the PP regime has exhaustively used resources on war it wages on own citizens & on purchases of weapons in addition to PM’s fairytale parks and palaces on which trillions were invested. Inflation has exponentially increased. Anarchy and lawlessness become part of daily life even in the capital, Finfinnee. PP’s government is demolishing mosques and displacing thousands in various parts of Oromia, close to Finfinnee under the pretext of development projects.
In Kemant, Benishangul, Agaw, Amhara and elsewhere voluntarily surrendered previous rebels became the subject imprisonment and torture. Those former rebels who have accepted the calls of PP government for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration-DDR; were rounded up to be thrown to various prison cells. Doing so buried the hope of those who wish to voluntarily surrender to be part of a peace process.
The Ethiopian government is derailing the hopes and peaceful aspirations of those who wish to return to normality. From these all evidence, we can assert that, Ethiopia is under precarious situations as the ruler has no appetite to stop the cycles of violence and civil war; instead using it to ensure the assertion of his stay on power.
VII. Conclusion And Recommendations,
So far, I have attempted to raise key issues that are pertinent to the current crisis engulfing the empire. We have seen the Ethiopia’s PM is using conflict as his ‘MODUS OPERANDI’ that enables him to remain on power. We saw how remorseless the PM is in the face death of over 1.5 million people since 2018 alone. Therefore, it is important to understand for Ethiopian nations and nationalities to untie and defend their individual and collective rights.
I strongly believe only agreeing to remain together as equal partners saves Ethiopia from precarious end. In this regard, urging the Ethiopia’s PP government to agree to a negotiation that enables the practicality of all-inclusive dialogue whereby collective agreement is reached on the future of the country and its stakeholders. The empire is on perilous journey towards its end.
Furthermore, the importance for all political parties and civic organisations to unite and focus on wider objective that caters for common good. Only aspiring for common good and agreeing to a peaceful coexistence saves the empire from the unknown eventuality. Instead of bickering on minor differences, all must agree to work together. I believe only doing so saves the empire from total collapse and its peoples from the cycles of violence and indignation. Agreeing to create peace, stability and peaceful coexistence whilst honouring natural differences in multi-ethnic empire is the only way forward that keeps us together. As we all have commonality, our differences must be always recognised, honoured, and respected.
The call upon the Ethiopian PP’s government to unconditionally stop its war on nations and nationalities is timely instead by urging it to agree to a peaceful round table political dialogue. I believe PM’s and his supporters’ immaturity only creates cycles of violence. The Ethiopia’s PP government must unconditionally remove foreign forces (Eritrean army and security apparatuses) from Western Tigray and the rest part of Ethiopia. This writer strongly believes the Ethiopian PM’s ignominy of allowing 120 million populated country to be remote-ruled by 3 million populated country ruler that has brought national disgrace must come to an end. It must end now!!
Calling upon nations and nationalities of Ethiopia to unambiguously understand that Abiy’s PP regime since 2018 has brought nothing, but suffering, civil war and destruction, normalisation of peoples’ suffering and death in their millions, rape of women and girls by invited foreign forces, assassinations of prominent figures, allowing foreign forces to freely invade own country and selling of national interest for his personal ego, pilling up trillions of dollars of debts which he borrows to use it for his war on citizens and fairy-tale projects, destruction, violence and instability, poverty and international shame and disgrace.
It is important to understand a bitter reality that, apart from forcing Abiy Ahmed to remove himself from the power after facilitating transitional government; his presence is as dangerous as malignant tumour that never heals.
The role of the international community must be clear to all peoples in Ethiopia. No one cares for you unless their geo-political interests are compromised. The UAE ruler who sponsored Tigray genocide by providing drones and various weapons and to date sponsoring war on Amhara and Oromia, is a good example for international community’s double standard. This must be clearly understood to enable all subjects to put differences aside to unite and fight together to be able to end cycles of civil war and violence that is enabling dictators to remain on power.
The call to the international community remains pertinent to end their support of dictators in Ethiopia instead supporting the just calls of nations and nationalities to equal and peaceful co-existence. The call to resume food and medical aid to War torn Tigray where citizens are dying of hunger and preventable diseases at alarming rate is crucial. Tigray is still under siege as foreign forces are widely circulating in occupied Western and southern Tigray.
Unfortunately, all religious institutions and leaders have supported Tigray genocide. A call for these all to critically think their roles in conflict resolution and bringing peace and stability is urgent!! Instead of becoming biased thereby supporting genocide committing regime; defending genuine religious values and teachings is begging the attention of all religious leaders and moral peoples in the dejected empire.
A call upon obdurate, backward thinking Amhara elites only possessing stone age mentality thus are hell bent on their unrealistic objective of restoring an old repressive and brutal politico-economic system in Ethiopian empire under territorial expansionism framework remains pressing. A call upon these groups to pragmatically think and agree to join federalist forces to work hand in hand toward common good for all peoples in Ethiopia is extremely timely. I strongly advise Amhara elites and fascist Fano to stop their war on their people & their poisonous propaganda on other nations and nationalities- focusing on Oromo nation.
Finally, I call upon the PP’s government to immediately stop the kidnapping of citizens for ransom by several armed gangs or else officially admit PP government is incapable of safeguarding citizens and defending territorial integrity of the country, the main duties of any government; therefore, immediately facilitate transitional government by stepping down.
